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And, on a more serious note, it would represent the end of a shabby, antiquated era, pronouncing that aspect of anti-Semitism now (hopefully) dead and gone. It might even make it easier for young comedians, actors, and rock stars to resist the temptation to try to "pass." (Although, frankly, I hope that Gene Simmons of Kiss keeps his origins hidden from those who don't know about them.) It could be an important cultural moment.
Don't you think it's about time for Jews to reject the rejection of their ancestry and the WASP-ification of their names? Not just you, but all Jews in show business, indeed all Jews in business business. The practice might once have served a purpose, back in the '20s and '30s, when it was insisted upon by powerful but fearful Hollywood movie moguls who wanted Jewish talent but were afraid of Jewish names seeming un-American to the mass of the populace who, it's probably true at that time, suffered from a low-grade case of anti-Semitism. Or nativist hostility to foreign names in general. So Issur Danielovitch Demsky became Kirk Douglas. (You could have gone with Kirk Leibowitz.)
Great Points brought up by the author, Ron Rosenbaum
And, on a more serious note, it would represent the end of a shabby, antiquated era, pronouncing that aspect of anti-Semitism now (hopefully) dead and gone. It might even make it easier for young comedians, actors, and rock stars to resist the temptation to try to "pass." (Although, frankly, I hope that Gene Simmons of Kiss keeps his origins hidden from those who don't know about them.) It could be an important cultural moment.
Don't you think it's about time for Jews to reject the rejection of their ancestry and the WASP-ification of their names? Not just you, but all Jews in show business, indeed all Jews in business business. The practice might once have served a purpose, back in the '20s and '30s, when it was insisted upon by powerful but fearful Hollywood movie moguls who wanted Jewish talent but were afraid of Jewish names seeming un-American to the mass of the populace who, it's probably true at that time, suffered from a low-grade case of anti-Semitism. Or nativist hostility to foreign names in general. So Issur Danielovitch Demsky became Kirk Douglas. (You could have gone with Kirk Leibowitz.)
Should Jon Stewart change his name back to Jon Leibowitz? - By Ron Rosenbaum - Slate Magazine
Except it's not their names. Unless they were the ones to change their own name. He's also assuming they care about their heritage.Do folks not get the point of the article?
Many Jewish entertainers had to change their names to "Anglo-Saxon" ones to be "accepted" in the entertainment business.
He is saying, "Hey, it's 2009, take your name back now, be proud of your heritage!"
Do folks not get the point of the article?
Many Jewish entertainers had to change their names to "Anglo-Saxon" ones to be "accepted" in the entertainment business.
He is saying, "Hey, it's 2009, take your name back now, be proud of your heritage!"
Except it's not their names. Unless they were the ones to change their own name. He's also assuming they care about their heritage.Do folks not get the point of the article?
Many Jewish entertainers had to change their names to "Anglo-Saxon" ones to be "accepted" in the entertainment business.
He is saying, "Hey, it's 2009, take your name back now, be proud of your heritage!"
And yet there it still is: Jon Stewart. A faint but unnecessary relic of anti-Semitism. You know, Jon, the treatment of Jewish names is often a barometer of that social disease. I consulted one of the foremost scholars of anti-Semitism, Robert Wistrich, the author of a forthcoming history of it called A Lethal Obsession. He pointed out that "n 1938 the Nazi government obliged all German Jews to add an additional name (Israel for men and Sarah for women) to mark them off from the rest of the population. It was one more way of signaling the end of Jewish emancipation." And, Wistrich added, even now in very different circumstances, name changing of a different sort "reflects a latent Jewish insecurity and sense of vulnerability which is far from having disappeared." So you shouldn't feel bad about having done it, Jon. But it is a good time to change it.
His given name is Jon Leibowitz. He changed it to Stewart for show biz.
His given name is Jon Leibowitz. He changed it to Stewart for show biz.
I think his name is jon stewart liebowitz... he just dropped the last name. but it's not like he hides his background or anything.
Except it's not their names. Unless they were the ones to change their own name. He's also assuming they care about their heritage.Do folks not get the point of the article?
Many Jewish entertainers had to change their names to "Anglo-Saxon" ones to be "accepted" in the entertainment business.
He is saying, "Hey, it's 2009, take your name back now, be proud of your heritage!"
His given name is Jon Leibowitz. He changed it to Stewart for show biz.And yet there it still is: Jon Stewart. A faint but unnecessary relic of anti-Semitism. You know, Jon, the treatment of Jewish names is often a barometer of that social disease. I consulted one of the foremost scholars of anti-Semitism, Robert Wistrich, the author of a forthcoming history of it called A Lethal Obsession. He pointed out that "n 1938 the Nazi government obliged all German Jews to add an additional name (Israel for men and Sarah for women) to mark them off from the rest of the population. It was one more way of signaling the end of Jewish emancipation." And, Wistrich added, even now in very different circumstances, name changing of a different sort "reflects a latent Jewish insecurity and sense of vulnerability which is far from having disappeared." So you shouldn't feel bad about having done it, Jon. But it is a good time to change it.
I know that, he is proud of his heritage!
I guess I'm confused, why wouldn't you want your given name back in the professional world. Am I missing something?
Isn't Liebowitz a German name as much as it is a Jewish name?
Leibowitz
Last name origin & meaning:
Jewish (Ashkenazic): patronymic from Leib 1. The suffix -owitz represents a Germanized form of the eastern Slavic patronymic suffix -ovich, Polish -owicz.
What has your research shown you?because a site selling purported family crests has an interest in accuracy?
Except it's not their names. Unless they were the ones to change their own name. He's also assuming they care about their heritage.
His given name is Jon Leibowitz. He changed it to Stewart for show biz.And yet there it still is: Jon Stewart. A faint but unnecessary relic of anti-Semitism. You know, Jon, the treatment of Jewish names is often a barometer of that social disease. I consulted one of the foremost scholars of anti-Semitism, Robert Wistrich, the author of a forthcoming history of it called A Lethal Obsession. He pointed out that "n 1938 the Nazi government obliged all German Jews to add an additional name (Israel for men and Sarah for women) to mark them off from the rest of the population. It was one more way of signaling the end of Jewish emancipation." And, Wistrich added, even now in very different circumstances, name changing of a different sort "reflects a latent Jewish insecurity and sense of vulnerability which is far from having disappeared." So you shouldn't feel bad about having done it, Jon. But it is a good time to change it.
Did Stewart say it was because he was ashamed to be a Jew or of Jewish heritage? If so you would think he would have become John Stewart.
Anyway, I think that people should be able to change their names for whatever reason so long as it isn't for fraudulent purposes.
